What is some good things to do with a new pc/laptop/computer?

So im about to get a new laptop, its no the best but it will be diffrent, currently i have a desktop so a laptop i will be able to move around with.

Its a windows laptop with 12gb of ram, 250 storage, so im hoping its good becasue i got this laptop on the cheaper end becasue its refurbished acording to amazon.

anyways what are some of the first things to do with a laptop besides setting it up and what are some cool uses, i have some ideas on how i might use the laptop but i want to hear what yall have to say.

Belgdore,

Other than games,

Learn how to code. Look up some YouTube tutorials on python or Java to get started then go from there.

Write/ journal. Laptops are great for being in new and different locations that may inspire new thoughts and ideas. Write them down, make them into a book. This works best when you don’t have WiFi imo.

If your hardware supports it learn how to 3d model. Look into blender.

QuietStorm,
@QuietStorm@lemmy.fmhy.ml avatar

ive been wanting to make a game but im not sure hwere to start or what engine to use, there just so many.

blazera,
@blazera@kbin.social avatar

You can do a lot without knowing a lot going with unreal(game engine), mixamo(character animations), and whatever free models you can find. Unreal has some starter projects, a small 3D arena with a default character already controllable and animated, you can ease into it learning how to replace whats already there and then add on new things.

crossover,

Unity, Unreal, and Godot are popular game engines with good communities and tutorials available. Or try something simpler like Game Maker.

Just jump in and experiment and there’s no wrong choices. Think of it like digital play crafting. Just explore and see what you can do.

Belgdore,

Start small. Watch game developer videos. Make games that imitate games you like to get an idea of how they do it.

Get on some game dev boards and talk to the people who already make games

Candelestine,

Nothing wrong with a cheap, refurbished laptop. Hopefully it has a warranty of some sort.

First thing is wipe all the crap off. The amount can vary dramatically depending on where you got it.

Then go through and configure your windows settings. This is pretty personal, you can just play around with most of them, but probably stay out of advanced menus if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Then start downloading free software you’re going to need. The very basics is an unzipping program and your web browser of choice. Beware windows defender, the default security software with windows, is intended to work specifically with their browser, not other people’s.

Then start downloading optional software you want. Steam, discord, crap like that. Start installing and configuring the settings of the programs one at a time.

Here’s some other people’s opinions. I haven’t watched these, but the sources appear reputable:

youtu.be/L14fTu6dsCoyoutu.be/XEEcxYzNOfIyoutu.be/MfwjISmkEJM

Poggervania,
@Poggervania@kbin.social avatar

Adding on to the Windows Defender bit: it’s also a very good antivirus, so you can pretty much just get away with that and an adblocker on your browser of choice. Been running Firefox with uBlock Origin and Windows Defender for years now at this point and have not had a single virus nor infection on my computer - and I used to use Norton and Avast before that.

That being said, if you’re the kind of person that goes onto hella sketchy sites a lot of the time, might be worth looking into a paid antivirus.

Rhabuko,
@Rhabuko@feddit.de avatar
  • Buying Dwarf Fortress on Steam and getting addicted? 😂
  • Download Blender and start learning 3D modeling. All Blender beginner’s usually start with a Donut tutorial on YouTube 😉
Contramuffin,

First thing to do: reinstall windows. You keep your license, it’s quick, but it removes all the bloatware on your computer

ori,
@ori@lemmy.sdf.org avatar

Do this, then visit ninite.com and choose what you want installed on it.

flameguy21,
@flameguy21@lemmy.world avatar

I’d rather use Chocolately for that since it’s an actual package manager. Ninite is pretty good for what it is though.

RvTV95XBeo,

Or, just use winget!

Unpopular4810,

Also, do not delete the Ninite installer exe from your computer. It comes handy in updating all the apps at once. Just double click the installer again.

GreenPlasticSushiGrass,
@GreenPlasticSushiGrass@kbin.social avatar

That's an awesome tip! I wish I knew that seven years ago after my last build.

pineapplelover,

I use Chris Titus Windows Utility Script

baseless_discourse,

Except all the bloat included in windows.

Gormadt,
@Gormadt@lemmy.blahaj.zone avatar

Install software relevant software to your hobbies

I’d recommend finding out what kind of video card it has though as that’s a big deciding factor in what you can use it for.

QuietStorm,
@QuietStorm@lemmy.fmhy.ml avatar

my only hobbys are watching youtube and playing games, im totaly struggling to find a new hobby becasue im hard on myself and depressed.

galaxi,

I’m sorry you’ve been feeling depressed. I know how that can make it difficult to start getting into other things. I have a couple suggestions. One is to just let yourself get bored enough to wander around the internet and find cool things. If you find something you want to try like an art tutorial, don’t pressure yourself or anything, just give it a go! I made a lot of art in high school using stuff like photoshop or free programs and it eventually got me into graphic design. I sometimes wish I still had the time to mess around with stuff like that! And another one, if you’re into tech and want to try new hobbies, you might be able to volunteer at the local makerspace which would give you a membership there. I used to not have a lot of hobbies, but I got into 3d printing. It’s so fun to make stuff without needing talent. If you can’t afford a hobby like that, a makerspace would let you try out stuff like that and meet other people with creative hobbies like coding, 3d printing, and making robots. :)

NightOwl,

I recommend the Blender donut tutorial video. It’s free on YouTube and Blender is free. Free is awesome and it’s educational and pretty fun.

nueonetwo,

Digital art is pretty fun if you’re at all artistic, even technical drawing using AutoCAD or a similar software can be fun to learn and will give you a new skill. Try to use something you already like as a jump off point (ie draw a scale model of a weapon from a game).

rayman30,
@rayman30@lemmy.world avatar
  • Wipe Windows
  • Install Linux
  • Profit
Bishma,
@Bishma@social.fossware.space avatar

My last couple computers have never been sullied by Windows (or “secure” boot).

baseless_discourse,

Ruchard Stallman in front of a glass pane like jesus

Xeelee,
@Xeelee@kbin.social avatar

Do you use Arch?

max,

They would’ve said so. ;)

tetraodon,

Well, I do in any case

speck,

What's arch?

Eeyore_Syndrome,
@Eeyore_Syndrome@sh.itjust.works avatar

https://sh.itjust.works/pictrs/image/32bd5555-4e0a-41b4-af1a-7291a4ed8f2c.jpeg

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